Deciding to start following a yoga workout video is only the first step.  Have you ever tried to look one up online?  Regardless of whether you’re searching a free streaming site or you’re buying a premium download, you’ll have dozens – if not hundreds – of options.  Which one is right for you?  How do you know if you’ll be getting the right guidance to meet your goals?

After all, the last thing you want to do is waste your time or risk injuring yourself.  At the same time, you also want to make sure that you’re doing the right workout for you.  After all, there isn’t just one form or difficulty level to yoga. 

If you’re on the hunt for a yoga workout video, there are a few things you might want to consider.  Keep the following in mind as you choose your video.

• The instructor – Found a video that looks amazing?  Remember that looks can be deceiving.  Just because an instructor is charismatic, it doesn’t mean that he or she is a proper instructor.  Do your research and find out about that person’s qualifications.  Is the instructor trained, certified and experienced?  Or is s/he just an enthusiast with a great camera?  That said, you might also want to pay attention to that charisma factor.  Even the most qualified instructor in the world won’t be of much use to you if you feel they have an irritating voice or an awkward way of providing instructions.  If the instructor won’t make the experience enjoyable and effective for you, you won’t end up using the video more than once or twice.
• The form of yoga – Yoga is a very broad term that takes a number of different styles and practices into account.  The two main categories are hatha and vinyasa. Within those categories, there are several forms.  Hatha yoga includes the types that tend to be slow paced and gentle.  Many beginners like this method and can use it to learn the basic poses. Vinyasa allows for more dynamic and vigorous movement, which is appealing to people who would rather keep moving. That said, if you’re a beginner, you may find it challenging to keep up at the start.
• The difficulty level – Many videos are designed with a certain level of experience or difficulty in mind.  Be sure to pay attention to that label or rating to make sure that you will challenge yourself appropriately.
• The focus on form – Make sure the video you choose pays attention to guiding you in terms of your form.  In a class, your instructor would give you personal directions to ensure you’re doing the poses correctly to obtain all the benefits and avoid injuring yourself.  At home while you watch a video, you don’t have that added advantage.  It’s up to you to make sure your video is telling you what you need to know to do the poses correctly.

There likely won’t be one yoga video that will be the single defining routine for you to follow for the rest of your life.  That said, when you can get your hands on a good one to help you wake up in the morning, de-stress in the afternoon or wind down in the evening, it can make a tremendous difference to your health and wellbeing. 

Take the time to discover a video that will be appropriate and enjoyable for your experience level, expectations and fitness abilities. Your added effort will be well worth the results you’ll be able to achieve.